Carbon cycles naturally between geologic and atmospheric reservoirs. geologic and atmospheric reservoirs and living organisms. atmospheric reservoirs and living organisms. geologic reservoirs and living organisms. The greenhouse effect Multiple Choice decreases the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. is caused by gases such as carbon dioxide trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere. is due to gases forming a barrier around the earth and insulating the earth from the sun’s rays.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
- Carbon cycles naturally between geologic and atmospheric reservoirs and living organisms.
Explanation:
The carbon cycle refers to the continuous movement of carbon through different parts of the Earth system. These parts include geologic reservoirs (such as fossil fuels and carbonate rocks), atmospheric reservoirs (primarily in the form of carbon dioxide), and living organisms (through processes like photosynthesis and respiration). Carbon moves between these reservoirs through processes like:
- Photosynthesis: Plants, algae, and some bacteria absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter (like glucose).
- Respiration: Plants and animals release carbon back into the atmosphere as CO₂ when they break down organic matter for energy.
- Decomposition: When organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.
- Weathering and Volcanic Activity: Over geological timescales, carbon from the Earth’s crust can be released into the atmosphere through processes like volcanic eruptions or the weathering of carbonate rocks.
The dynamic interactions between these three reservoirs—geologic, atmospheric, and biological—form a key part of the Earth’s carbon cycle, maintaining a balance that helps regulate the global climate.
- The greenhouse effect is caused by gases such as carbon dioxide trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere.
Explanation:
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that warms the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere. Certain gases, known as greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor (H₂O), trap heat in the atmosphere. The process works as follows:
- The Sun’s energy reaches the Earth in the form of solar radiation. This energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and re-radiated as infrared radiation (heat).
- Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-radiate some of this infrared radiation back toward the surface, effectively trapping heat. This process maintains the Earth’s average temperature at around 59°F (15°C), which is necessary for life as we know it.
However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, increase the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, amplifying the greenhouse effect and leading to global warming. The excess CO₂ from human activity is a primary driver of current climate change.